Fallen giant Wladimir Klitschko attempts to restore family honour and resurrect his shattered career when returning to prize fighting later this summer.

The 27-year-old lost the WBO heavyweight championship to Corrie Sanders in a March upset and was in the corner for brother Vitali's sixth round WBC defeat to Lennox Lewis on Saturday night.

Ukrainian-born Klitschko will try and put the painful memories in the past and fast-track back into the world title mix when he takes on a top-rated opponent in adopted home country Germany on August 30.

Klitschko's promoter's Universum believe a tough test of his mettle is the best way to come back from the Sanders shocker, rather than taking a string of confidence-boosting bouts against mediocre opposition.

Four or five highly-ranked foes are currently on the short list to be in the opposite corner come fight night in Munich.

"There is no sense matching Wladimir with an easy opponent," said Universum spokesman Christoph Rybarczyk.

"We believe Wladimir is a top fighter and one result hasn't changed that.

"Just like Vitali supposedly having no heart was never a topic for us, the question of Wladimir being finished as a top fighter just isn't something we are worried about.

"He got caught with some very good shots from a dangerous fighter (Sanders).

"It was a bad loss, sure, but one he will avenge when the time comes.

"Wladimir will not gain a thing from coming back and beating easy opponents.

"He'll come back with a good, important victory."

Wladimir is desperate for an immediate return with Sanders but the South African has hatched big plans of his own since ripping away the WBO belt.

Corrie, as reported previously on this page, has set up a fight with noted dangerman David Tua towards the end of the year.

But Tua is also believed to be on Klitschko's shortlist, along with the likes of former Lewis conqueror Hasim Rahman.

Yet it remains to be seen whether either would be willing to travel to Germany to tackle Klitschko on his own territory.